Celebrate spring, save on decorations

Easter is two weeks from today. Can you believe it? I love this time of year, the pastel colors arrive in stores and that means spring is right around the corner. This week, I have been busy looking for frugal crafts and decorations to make to share.

Easter candle holders

I used goblets and martini glasses that I had previously purchased at the Dollar Tree to create this festive centerpiece. I placed plastic eggs of various colors inside each glass and turned them upside down on my mantel. I alternated between the martini glass and the goblets to create a staggered effect. I placed pastel yellow and green candles that were also purchased from the Dollar Tree on top of each glass. The total cost of this cute display was just $11. However, I already had the green candles and the glasses because I used the same glasses and the green candles to create a cute Christmas display. I only had to spend $3 to update the display to an Easter one. I plan to do the same thing for each season and holiday. The candles are meant for decoration only; I do not plan to light them. If you wanted to light them, you could add a glass candle plate to the top of each glass — just be sure to keep anything flammable from them.

You could also add the following cheap touches to the display:

• Use Easter grass and smaller eggs to fill the glasses

• Place Easter figurines inside the goblets and eggs inside the smaller ones (they have cute bunny figurines at the Dollar Tree)

• Cut cute little egg shapes or polka dots out of various pieces of colored paper and tape to the inside or outside of the glass.

• Using a ribbon, tie a bow around each glass

• Use Easter tree decorations (these are the little figurines that you hang on little fake table top trees; they are also available at the Dollar Tree) Tie two little foam eggs to each glass by threading a piece of Easter grass through their ribbon and tying it around the stem of the glass.

Easter picture frames

When my kids were smaller, we would have an egg hunt every year with their cousins. We also colored eggs every year. I went through my photographs and found some great photos that captured these events. I plan on framing those photos and placing them around my home to put a smile on everyone’s face.

I am picking up old picture frames at thrift stores and at the Dollar Tree as well as using some frames that I already have at home. I am going to decorate the frames using an Easter/spring theme.

I haven’t decorated the frames yet, but here are some ideas. Keep in mind you will need to remove the glass and the backing from the frame while you are decorating it. Don’t replace them until the frame is dry.

To change the color of the frame to a pastel color use one of the following:

• Spray paint

• Acrylic paint (you can use sponges to create various textures)

• Duct tape — this works great on plastic frames that don’t hold paint well. Remove the back of the frame and the glass and start wrapping the frame with the duct tape. Start at the top corner and work in a clockwise motion until the entire thing is covered. Be sure to stop and end the “wrapping” at the back of the frame to hide your starting and ending point.

Once the paint has dried, decorate the frame using one of the following methods:

• Hot glue a six-inch ribbon on the top two corners of the frame, placing the hot glue in the center of the ribbon. Thread one side of each ribbon through the hanger of a small Easter ornament and tie the ribbon into a bow. I plan to use the small foam eggs I purchased at the Dollar Tree.

• Using hot glue or duct tape fasten a decorative item directly to each corner of the picture frame. You can use small figurines, plastic or foam eggs, or you could cut out your own decorations from craft foam and decorate the frame

• Give the frame a polka-dotted look. Dip a pencil eraser into different colors of paint and create small dots on the frame.

Easter sidewalk chalk

This cute craft was shared all over Facebook last week. You can make homemade sidewalk chalk using muffin tins. This would make a great basket filler or a fun craft to make with your kids.

Combine: 1 ½ cups of cornstarch, 1 ½ cups of water and 2 to 3 drops of food coloring.

Mix well.

Fill each muffin about 1/3 of the way full with the mixture.

Once the mixture hardens pop out and let your kids write on the sidewalk.

Please note: I haven’t tried this so I’m not sure if the food coloring will stain anything once this is hardened. Make sure your kids wear old clothes while making and using this chalk and be sure to keep it away from furniture, etc.

Send your tips or questions to Savvy Shopper Michelle Rubrecht at savvyshopper@savannahnow.com or post them to Savannah Savvy Shopper on Facebook.

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